Page 58 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

18 THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM VOL. I

Fig. 1. Zhang Yuanxian iJ~iJJ1{?t, sixty- Fig. 2 . As part of the ordination ritual, a candidate
fourth Celestial Master (*tianshi), must climb a ladder of thirty-six swords and recite
reads an ordination text in Kaohsiung, texts on top of the ladder. Each blade is "protected"
Taiwan (December 1978). Photograph by a paper talisman (*fu.). Kaohsiung, Taiwan
by Julian Pas. (December 1978). Photograph by Julian Pas.

More elaborate ordination ceremonies, which more actively integrate
Buddhist procedures, appear in Tang-dynasty sources, such as the *Fengdao
kejie (Codes and Precepts for Worshipping the Dao) and the Chuanshou san-
dongjingjie falu lueshuo {$ t~ .:::: WiJ ~ ttX: * ~ ~ $t (Synopsis of Transmissions
for Scriptures, Precepts, and Liturgical Registers of the Three Caverns; CT
I24I; Benn I99I, 148-5I), which also specify an integrated ordination or priestly
hierarchy. The earliest Taoist ranks known, which became the foundation of
the hierarchy, are those of the Way of the Celestial Masters (*Tianshi dao), in
which different types and numbers of protective generals are listed in registers
and presented to disciples. Ranks here include register disciple (lusheng ~
~), demon trooper (guizu * ¥), Dao official (daoguan ili '§), and libationer
(*jijiu). Anyone holding registers of I50 generals, as described in *Lu Xiujing's
*Daomen kelue (Abridged Codes for the Taoist Community), had to be good,
loyal, simple, careful, prudent, diligent, and utterly dedicated to the Dao.
They made up the avant-garde of the religion. Another frequently bestowed
rank was that of Exalted Mystery (Gaoxuan ~ 'K), associated with the Daode